DALLAS — Republican groups are making a major financial push to keep Ken Paxton in contention for a Texas Senate seat, committing more than $40 million to the race in the past week as the attorney general faces Democrat James Talarico in an unexpectedly competitive contest. A super PAC tied to Republican Senate leadership has reserved at least $32 million in television advertising for Paxton, according to AdImpact. A separate committee connected to President Donald Trump reported spending $10 million on the race last week. The spending arrives as several recent polls show Paxton slightly behind Talarico. An AARP survey released Sept. 10, conducted in part by a firm associated with Trump pollster Tony Fabrizio, found a close contest among Texas voters. The Republican effort also follows months of pressure on Trump and national party leaders to invest heavily in Paxton’s campaign. Trump backed Paxton during the Republican primary and used two speeches at the Republican National Committee convention in Dallas this week to promise continued support. “We have to elect Ken Paxton,” Trump said at the convention. “And if I have to, I’ll come back twice or three times.” The sudden influx of money signals that Republicans are increasingly concerned about the possibility of losing a Texas Senate race for the first time in nearly four decades. The party is also seeking to preserve its Senate majority in the November midterm elections. “​​The Republican Party is united to elect Ken Paxton and keep Texas red in November,” Alex Latcham, executive director of the Senate Leadership Fund, said in a statement. “Senate Leadership Fund’s investment through Texas PAC affirms our commitment to maintaining the Republican majority and defeating Far-Left liberals like James Talarico.” Texas’ costly and expansive media markets could force Democrats to decide quickly whether to spend heavily to counter the Republican advertising. Talarico has raised substantially more than Paxton directly: His campaign had $21.5 million available in its latest Federal Election Commission report, compared with $1.8 million for Paxton’s campaign. Republican-aligned outside groups, however, have a much larger financial reserve. Trump’s MAGA Inc. has entered the race, while Elon Musk’s America PAC has spent $1.6 million supporting Paxton. The leading Democratic Senate super PAC has not yet reserved advertising time in Texas, according to AdImpact. Talarico’s campaign is seeking to make Paxton’s record and personal controversies central to the race. Democrats have pointed to a contentious divorce and numerous ethics complaints involving the Republican nominee, while also highlighting Trump’s own remarks questioning Paxton’s appearance and speaking style. “He may not dress right. He may not talk exactly perfectly, and he may not be the best looking guy I’ve ever seen,” Trump said Wednesday. “But you know what he is? He’s the greatest attorney general in America, and he deserves to be your next senator.” Talarico used the comments against Trump and Paxton in a recent television interview, responding to a compilation of Trump’s past criticisms by saying, “I’m James Talarico, and I approve that message.” “Billionaire-backed dark money groups are lying about James because they’re scared of the people-powered movement we’re building to fix this broken, corrupt political system,” Talarico spokesperson JT Ennis said in a statement. The scale and timing of the Republican spending could reshape the contest in a state where statewide GOP candidates have held a dominant advantage. For Texas voters, the campaign is likely to bring a surge of outside-funded television advertising as both parties weigh whether the race has become a genuine threat to Republican control of the seat.